Umbilical-cord clamp



Jan. 2, 1923.

C E ZIEGLER UMBILICAL CORD CLAMP. FILED OCT. 29, 1921.

4 I I l? Patented den. 2, i923.

UlviBILIGAL-COBD CLAMP.

Application filed October 29, 1921. Serial No. 511,503;

To all whom it may concern-x Be it known that I, Cnnnnns E. Zmennn, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew anduseful Improvement in Umbilical- Cord Clamps, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to umbilical cord clamps intended for applicationto such cord at the time of birth of an infant and has for an object theprovision of a clamp which is simple, durable, compact, cheap tomanufacture, strong, easy to apply and remove, which is dependable inits operation and which can be readily cleaned after removal.

The primary object of ligating or clamping the cord is, as is wellknown, to prevent hemorrhage. Experience has proved that no matter atwhat point the cord is ligated separation always occurs at theskin'junction caused by the death of the stump of the cord and itsremoval by granulation tissue. It has also been found that mummificationof the stump minimizes the chances of infection and hastens separation,while on the other hand moist gangrene, infection and delayed separationgo hand in hand. Asepsis and elimination of moisture are thereforedesirable, if not imperative, in the treatment of the stump.

Special objects of the invention are to provide adevice which completelysqueezes out the moisture from the tissues of the stump, one in whichthere is no lessening of compression as the tissues of the cord giveaway, one in which a cutting of the amniotic covering will occur,facilitating the escape of the jelly of Wharton and other moisturetherefrom, one which keeps the stump elevated and away from the abdomenand one which is of such light weight and small size as to be readilyincorporated into the cord dressings without discomfort to the infant.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodimentof the invention, Fig.1 is an elevation of the clamp with a retractorframe applied thereto for holding the elastic disk in distendedposition; Fig. 2 a sectional. view taken on the line 11-11, Fig. 1';Fig. 3 an elevation of the clampwith the retractor frame removed inwhich the parts are shown in normal position; Fig. 4 an elevationshowing the method of exposing the clamping surfaces by flexing theelastic disk; Fig. 5 a perspectiveview of the clamping members removedfrom. the disk; and Fig. 6 an elevation showing the clamp applied to thecord.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings comprises a substantiallycircular disk.

1 of elastic and flexible material, such as rubber, provided with acentral aperture 2 in which is disposed a pair of segmental grippingblocks or jaw members 3 and 4 havstantially semi-circular in crosssection and is provided with a body portion 7 and lateral peripheralflanges 8 and 9.

The serrations of the jaws are preferably so formed that the ridges ofone fill the grooves of the opposite jaw to effect anunbroken contactbetween the faces throughout their entire extent, and when members 3and,

4t abut as shown in Fig. 3 the body portions and peripheral flangescooperate. to form an annular channel intowhich the disk 1 fits to forcesaid faces into intimate contact.

Each body portionhas an aperture formed therein asindicated at 10 and 11with which the respective pins 12 and 13 slidably and removably engage.Said pins project from i 18. The pin 12 is fixed to and projects from ithe member let and the pin 13 is likewise attached to the bar 18, asclearly shownin Fig.

2. A red 19 having a threaded, extremity 20 is fixed to thebar 18 midwayof its length and extends through an aperture 21 in the member 15against which a nut 22 provided with the knurled head 23' upon thethreaded end 20 abuts.

The parts are so designed that when bar 18 abuts the member 14 the pins12 and 13 will be spaced apart the exact distancebea tween the apertures10-and 111, when they 6 5 ing serrated aws orc-lamping faces 5 and 6,,respectively. Each of the blocks is sub clamping members are in theposition shown in F 1g. 3, so as to facilitate application of theretractor frame to the clamp proper.

The operation of the device is as follows: Normally the parts occupy theposition shown in Fig. 3 in which position the retractor frame may bereadily applied tothe clamp by unscrewing the nut 22 until the bar 18abuts member 14-. when thepins 12 and 13 are spaced exactly the distancebe tween theapertures 10 and 11 After the pins have beeninserted intothe apertures, the stem is screwed upon the rod 20, thus mioving theparts to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2-. The clamp may then be placed over the cord 24 the arteries of which are indicated at 25 and 2Gand its vein at 27, with the cord passing throughthe opening 2/Unscrewing of the nut 22 permits the elastic disk 1 to force the races 5and 6 together' c'lamping the cord securely between them, in the mannerillustrated in Fig.6.

In actual use an aseptic pad of absorbent cotton about half an inchthick and providedwith a hole in its center through which th cord isdrawn, is placed adjacent the infants body and packed snugly about thestump. The clamp isth'en applied in the manner above described at apoint close to the] skin junction andthe cord out just beyondtheretractor frame. After removal of the retractor the stump and clampare covered with a similar pad of aseptic absorbent cotton anda sterilegauze binder pinned in place over all.

It has been found that crushing of the cord materially shortens the timeof separation of the stump, and the device described ensures a, constantpressure between the faces of ithe clampingjaws irrespective of thebreaking down of the tissues of the cord. With such treatment the stumpreduees to a very thin parchmentlike remnant within a few days at whichtime it can be readily twisted off by rotating the clamp.

'The-r'liskis preferably made of the best quality of rubber and theclamping members constructed of Monel metal which is a non-corrosivenickel alloy unaffected by antiseptics, blood and tissue substances. Butit is evident that other substances having similar qualities could beused without departing from the spirit of the invention.

one of the important features of the invention is the fact that aconstant pressure iseXerted between the clamping races 5tionsillustrated in Fig. 3.

Because of the small size, light weight and form of the clamp it can bereadily incorporated into the'cord dressings without discomfort to theinfant and will hold the stump elevated and away from-the abdomen whereperspiration otherwise adds to its moisture, and when used as abovedescribed the absorbent paekings will absorb all mois ture from theparts. It is also, obvious that where it is desired to clamp the cordmerely until danger of hemorrhage has passed, which is the practice ofsome physicians, the clamp may be easily removed whenever desired byinserting the pins ofth'e retractor and turning the nut in the mannerpreviously described.

claim:

An umbilical cord clamp comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, andelastic means encircling the same for constantly urging" them towardeach other-and in contact with a cord.

2. rei n umbilical cord clamp comprising,

spaced peripheral flanges, anda' resilient band surrounding the saidmembers "and disposed between said flanges for urging the jaw facestoward each other and in contact with a cord. I

4. An umbilical cord clamp comprising jaw members having cooperatingface's'aiid provided with peripheral positioning means, anda resilientband encircling the members and engaging the said means to position thesame, the resilient bandurg- 111 in contact with a cord.

An umbilical cord clamp comprising a pair of segmental'jaw membershaving" coop'erating jaw faces and provided with spaced peri heralflanges, and a resilient band surrounding the said members and disposedbetween said flanges for urging he jaw faces toward each other, each orthe jaw members having an aperture in the body thereof for the receptionof mechanism for distending the said band. i

6. An umbilical cord clamp comprising pair of segmental jaw membershaving serrated iaces contacting throughout their g the said facestoward each other and length and provided with spaced peripheralflanges. and a resilient band encircling the said members and positionedbetween the flanges for urging the faces toward each other.

7. An umbilical cord clamp comprising a resilient disk having a centralaperture, gripping members provided with cooperative jaw faces disposedwithin the said aperture, said disk urging said jar: faces toward eachother.

8. An umbilical cord clamp comprising an elastic disk having anaperture, a pair of gripping members provided with cooperative jawfaces, and means for retaining a portion of the periphery of thegripping members opposite said faces in contact with the disk wherebyflexing of the disk will cause the faces to 'be separated whereby thesame may be readily exposed for cleaning.

9. Anumbilical cord clamp comprising an elastic disk having a centralaperture, gripping members disposed within the aperture provided withcontacting jaw faces, and engaging means on the body portions thereof,and means for cooperating with the engaging means to separate the saidfaces by stretching the disk.

10. An umbilical cord clamp comprising an elastic disk having anaperture, gripping blocks provided with cooperating clamping surfaces,and means for retaining the blocks within the aperture, said blocksbeapertures formed in their body portions, a

frame, projections on the frame removably fitting the said apertures,and means for moving the said'projections to separate the clampingsurfaces.

12. An umbilical cord clamp comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, and asingle resilient means for maintainlng the aws in assembled relation andfor urglng the same towards each cord. 4 v

13. An umbilical cord clamp comprising a pair of cooperating jaws andresilient means for clamping said jaws upon an umbilical cord, said jawsbeing mounted for variable movements with relation to each other wherebythe jaws under the action of the clamping means move to exert uniformpressure upon the cord throughout the extent of the jaws.

In testimony whereof, I Sign in name. CHARLES ZIEGLER. Witness:

EDW'IN O. JOHNS.

other and in contact with a

